At the 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, a powerful and unified message is resonating from civil society, Indigenous peoples, and frontline communities: The era of fossil fuels must end now, or humanity faces catastrophic consequences. Activists and experts alike are issuing stark warnings, asserting that the continued extraction and burning of coal, oil, and gas will lead to irreversible environmental tipping points and widespread destruction of life and rights.
The Imperative for a Full, Fast, and Fair Phase-Out
The core demand from global activists at COP30 is for world leaders to agree on a concrete plan for a full, fast, and fair phase-out of all fossil fuels. This is driven by three critical and undeniable realities:
- Fossil Fuels as the Engine of the Climate Crisis: Coal, oil, and gas remain the primary drivers of global warming. To keep the Paris Agreement’s most ambitious target of limiting global heating to $1.5^\circ\text{C}$ within reach, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has warned that fossil fuel production must decline by at least 55% between 2023 and 2035. Without this managed decline, the world will quickly exhaust its remaining carbon budget.
- Supercharging Climate Disasters: The fingerprints of fossil fuels are evident on nearly every extreme-weather event. Burning these fuels amplifies the severity and frequency of heatwaves, floods, droughts, and tropical cyclones worldwide, destabilizing communities and ecosystems.
- Destroying Lives and Rights: The entire fossil fuel life cycle, from exploration and extraction to processing and decommissioning, has devastating impacts on human health and rights. Reports indicate that over 2 billion people, including 520 million children, live within five kilometers of operational fossil fuel sites, exposing them to contaminated air and water. This deliberate pattern of turning communities and ecosystems into “sacrifice zones” erodes human rights, deepens inequality, and destroys vital natural resources.
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Addressing the Climate and Health Toll
A major report released in connection with COP30, titled ‘Cradle to Grave: The Health Toll of Fossil Fuels and the Imperative for a Just Transition’, highlights the devastating health impacts of the industry.